Tack detecting device



Sept. 18, 1945. c. s. HILTON TACK DETECTING DEVICE Filed Aug. 12, 1943 Chdrles GHiItan IN VEN TOR.

AT TORNE Y Patented Sept. 18, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,385,271 TACK DETECTING DEVICE Charles G. Hilton, Amarillo, Tex.

Application August 12, 1943, Serial No. 498,348

4 Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in tack detecting device, especially for use on the inside of boots or shoes.

In the manufacture of shoes, tacks are employed as temporary fastenings for holding the soles or insoles to the last and for holding the uppers temporarily in lasted positions. Such tacks are driven through the upper or sole, and although it is intended that the manufacturer of shoes should remove the tacks therefrom, some 'of these tacks are frequently overlooked and remain in the shoe until it is ready for sale to the ultimate consumer and for use.

The only way used commercially of detecting such tacks is to run the hand into the shoe and feel about on the inside, or if this is not done, the tack would not be detected until the foot is thrust into the shoe. In either event a stray tack left in the shoe often results in injury to the hand or foot before it can be detected and withdrawn.

The object of this invention is to provide for the detection of such tacks in shoes by mechanical means which will indicate the presence of the tack and the necessity for removing it, without danger of injury to the person in thi operation.

This object is accomplished by the provision of a head so constructed as to be thrust into the shoe or boot and carrying thereon a feeler which may be moved about within the shoe. If a tack is encountered by the feeler, provision is made for the operation of an annunciator in response to such contact, to indicate to the inspector the necessity for thus withdrawing the tack from the shoe. This detection device includes preferably a switch connected with the feeler and so constructed as to be operated in response to movement of the feeler in any direction by engagement with the tack, for closing an electric circuit to the annunciator to energize the latter and thereby indicate the presence of the tack.

The invention includes also a feeler and contact structure of improved characteristics, simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, and a material improvement in the manner in which it is operated to close an electric circuit in response to certain movement of the feeler in any direction. The feeler is mounted loosely on a head that is capable of manual manipulation for freedom of movement in any direction relative thereto.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the detecting device;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view therethrough;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view thereof with the bottom cover removed;

Fig. 4 is a cross section through the body of the tool on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a similar view on'the line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view of the wiring circuit of the signal device; and

Fig. '7 is a side elevation of the tool shown applied and in use in a shoe.

The tool shown as an embodiment of this invention is constructed of a head I which is preferably formed of electrical insulatin material, such as molded plastic, porcelain, rubber or the like. This head I is shaped somewhat triangular in plan, as shown in Fig. 3, and tapers downward from the back end to the forward end thereof, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. This configuration adapts it readily for insertion into the toe portion of a shoe, as is evident from Fig. 7. The upper back end portion of the head I is provided with concave grooves 2 to provide a handhold therebetween to permit grasping of the head by the hand of the operator for guiding it into and about in the shoe. I

The head I has a, recess 3 formed in the rear portion thereof adapted to enclose circuit closing means as hereinafter described. The recess 3 is enclosed at the bottom by a cover plate 4 detachably secured in place as by screws 5, to the lower edges of the body I at the rear thereof. The body I is cut away at the bottom of the forward end portion thereof to form a bottom face 6 spaced above the lower edges of the body I at the rear thereof, as will be evident from Figs. 1 and 2. This leaves an opening between the bottom cover 4 at the back portion of the head I and the bottom face 6 at the forward portion of said head.

A feeler 1 extends into said opening, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and projects outwardly therefrom and about the edges of the forward portion of the head I, both laterally and forwardly.

of said edges. This feeler is made preferably of wire square in cross section, and is shown as having an annular configuration. The disposition thereof spaced slightly outwardly from lateral confines of the forward end portion of the head I, as well as below the lower face of this portion of the head, so disposes the feeler that it will be in close proximity to the bottom is used; 1

surface of the shoe in position to contact any projecting tacks therein. The feeler is held slightly above the bottom surface by a guide 8 projecting downwardly through the feeler from the head I. This guide is shown and preferably formed of an adjusting screw threaded through the head and provided with a rounded lower end in position to bear upon the bottom surface of the shoe.

The feeler'I issecuredto a guide stem 9 at one end of the latter, which stem extends slidably through a slot I (Fig. in a bracket II rigidly mounted in the recess 3 of the head with a depending portion forming a guide for the stem Q. The stem 9 is held normally in a central position with respect to the bracket by springs I2 and I3 coiled around the stem, thus retaining not only the stem but also the feeler 'I" in their normal positions, as shown in Fig. 3. The rear, end portion of the feeler "I is guided also by its bearing relation upon the upper surface ofthe bottom cover 4, as shown in Fig. 2.

The rear end-:of: the stem 9%has a contact plat I4 fixed thereon, and disposed within embracing opposite sidcszof a substantially,U-shaped; contact I5 in position for engagingthecontact Ifiand closing a circuit thereat in responseto bodily movement of the; oontactmpla-te I4 either axially or transverselyof the stem 9, as said stem is moved in response to engagement of the feeler I. e

Anrelcctric cable I:B*is-:connected with the rear end portion of theg-head 3: through which cable extend-electric wires I7 and; I8.'which are connected respectively with the bracket I I and contact memberlfi, which elements areconstructed of electrically conducting; material. The bracket I I is. electrically connected through the 'coilspring IZiWith'thecontactpIate I4;

The parts I I-! 5 thus form an electric switch within the h-ead, adapted to close an electric circuit between the wires Hand 88' whenever the stem 9' is moved: appreciably in' response to movements of the feeler I either longitudinally or transversely of. the head I, sufficiently to engage the. contact: plate M with the contact member I5 at;any-points of .the latter.- Thewires -II, IB'are adapted to be connected in circuit with an annunciator'or signal device, suchas an electric lamp shown at I9 in Fig. 6,.whichwill be accomplisheduponsclosing of the circuit at-I i -l 5, thus indicating: to: the-inspector the engagement of the feeler, I with atack in theshoe, and the neoessity'for withdrawing such tackbefore the shoe It-will. be'notedthatthe shape and size of the head ,I issuchthatthe head may-be inserted into a shoe :andmoved-about therein, either longitudin'ally or-transversely.. Engagement of the feeler I with a tack'during. either of such movements will be sufficient1to close-the electric circuit at I i-45 becausethe-feeler'is free to move'in any circuit to the indicator. The stem 9 free to move longitudinally as well as transversely in response to these movements of the feeler, thus to engage some part of the contact plate I4 with an adjacent portion of the contact member I5.

While the tack detection tool is intended primarily for contacting and indicating the presence of tacks in boots and shoes, it is evident that it may be used in other articles or industries, whereever a feeler of this character may be found desirable.

I'claim:

1. In apparatus for use in detecting a tack in a shape adapted to be inserted in a shoe and to be inoved about the sole portion thereof, a feeler member. carried by the head for movement relative thereto, said feeler member extending in a circumferentialdirection about the toe portion of the head in spaced relation with the peripheral confines thereof, and annunciator means operatively connected with the feeler member for annu-nciating actionin response to movement of the feeler member relative to the head upon engagement with a. tack in the shoe.

2. In apparatus for use in detecting a tack in a shoe, the combination of a head of a size and shape adapted to beinserted in a shoe and to be moved about the sole portion thereof, a feeler member oarr-iedby the head for movement relative thereto, said ieeler member being constructed to extend aboutthe front end portion of the head in spaced relation therewith, means mountingsaid feeler member on the-headfor freedom ofmovement in all directions relative thereto, an annunciator means operatively connected withthe feeler member for yielding action in response to bodily movement of the 'feeler member upon engagement with atack in the shoe.

3. In apparatus for use in detecting a tack in a shoe; the combination of a head of a size and shape adapted to be inserted in a shoe and to be moved about the sole portion thereof, a.-feeler member including. a loop extending about the front end portion of the head in spaced relation therewith, means mounting the loop on the head ,for freedom of movement in all directions relative thereto, and circuit closing means carried by the head actuated in response to movement of the 'feeler member by engagement :with a. tack in the shoe and adapted to close an electric circuit to annunciator means.

4. In apparatus for use in detecting a. tack in a shoe, the combination of a headof a size and of thefeeler member by engagement with a tack inthe shoe for closing an electric circuit to annunciator means.

- 7 CHARLES G. HILTON. 

